reality

[ree-al-i-tee]

noun

plural

realities 

1. the state or quality of being real.

2. resemblance to what is real.

3. a real thing or fact.

4. real things, facts, or events taken as a whole; state of affairs.

   the reality of the business world; vacationing to escape reality.

5. Philosophy.

   1. something that exists independently of ideas concerning it.

   2. something that exists independently of all other things and from which all other things derive.

6. something that is real.

7. something that constitutes a real or actual thing, as distinguished from something that is merely apparent.

adjective

1. noting or pertaining to a TV program or film that portrays nonactors interacting or competing with each other in real but contrived situations, allegedly without a script.

   a popular reality show; reality TV.

reality

/ rɪˈælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of things as they are or appear to be, rather than as one might wish them to be

2. something that is real

3. the state of being real

4. philosophy

   1. that which exists, independent of human awareness

   2. the totality of facts as they are independent of human awareness of them See also conceptualism Compare appearance

5. actually; in fact

Other Word Forms

• antireality adjective
• nonreality noun
• proreality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reality¹

From the Medieval Latin word reālitās, dating back to 1540–50. See real ¹, -ity

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in reality, in fact or truth; actually.

   brave in appearance, but in reality a coward.

Example Sentences

Recognizing that North Korea is, and likely will remain, a nuclear power is simply the reality of Pyongyang’s achievement, some current and former U.S. officials say.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In reality, of course, Russia’s economy is feeling growing pain.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When he returned to the enclave earlier this month as part of a prisoners-for-hostages exchange deal, he said he left one grim reality for another.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"All the things – that is the reality. We don't expect things to change by themselves. Realising we have time can be a mistake if we don't change things around quickly."

Read more on BBC

I appreciate Democrats are talking about healthcare, but that political reality is worth keeping in mind.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• existence 
• matter 
• phenomenon 
• real world 
• realism 
• sensibility 
• truth